ATRA News

ModuTram Test Track

The ModuTram test track at the WTC Morelos Convention Centre in Mexico is now fully operational.

See more pictures here.

2014 Membership Fees

If you haven’t done so already please pay your ATRA fees for this year.

Payment Methods

– Via PayPal on our Membership page or

– By cheque payable to “Advanced Transit Association” to the following address:
Advanced Transit Association
c/o Tony Newkirk, Treasurer
44027 Florence Terrace
Ashburn, VA 20147

Or contact ATRA’s Membership Coordinator at secretary@advancedtransit.org.

PRT at Heathrow – Two Years On

The success of the Heathrow Pods demonstrates the feasibility of PRT as a way forward for ‘last mile’ solutions.

“Heathrow Terminal 5’s ‘Pods’ have achieved over 99% reliability since implementation and carried 370,000 passengers in the first year. They have removed over 50,000 bus journeys (and as a result reduced harmful emissions) as well as reducing journey times between the car park and the terminal with a non-stop direct service. From the passengers’ point of view, there is never more than a 10-15 second wait for a pod, in fact, 80% of passengers don’t have to wait at all…” – Arup

Read the whole article here.

Trial of Driverless Pods on the Pavements of Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes, a city so futuristic it was used as a filming location for Superman IV, has been selected for a trial of 100 driverless pods in 2015.

Devised by the Automotive Council UK, working with Cambridge University and ATRA member Arup, the scheme is being backed by the business department. Minister for Higher Education David Willetts heralds the project as the start of a “science fiction future”.

The pods, hailed by a smartphone app, are predicted to have the capacity to carry up to four people – with luggage – and will travel up to 12 miles per hour using sensors to to avoid pedestrians and other obstacles. The trial will see the pods carry passengers along a mile long route between the main train station and the central shopping centre at a cost around £2 per journey. Milton Keynes was picked because of it’s unusually wide pavements and pedestrian underuse of the route.

Business secretary Vince Cable: “Driverless cars have the potential to generate the kind of high-skilled jobs we want Britain to be famous for, as well as cutting congestion and pollution and improving road safety.”

City of Rzeszów PRT Project

The City of Rzeszow in South East Poland has announced that it is to seek funding from the EU for an advanced transportation project including both a monorail and PRT system. The city has a population of and is the 163,000 and is close to the borders of Ukraine and Slovakia making it an important communications centre. Rzeszow’ Mayor is promoting the city as an area of innovation and has already had some success in attracting aerospace businesses to the region (Podkarpackie), one on the most disadvantaged in the EU.

The monorail system is intended to circle the city using a 12Km twin track bidirectional loop. The monorail stations are to be served by PRT installations the first of which is to be installed as a pilot scheme on the Rzesow University of Technology campus. The campus system will serve to demonstrate and prove the technology unveiled recently at the ECO- mobility Conference recently held in the city.

Polish PRT System Announced

Warsaw University of Technology displayed its new PRT technology at the recent Eco – Mobility conference in Rzeszów. The three year development was within 1 million €, mostly funded by the EU.

The development of hardware, control system and simulation software was lead by Prof. Choromanski of Warsaw University.

The innovative linear motor powered system (LIM propulsion on-board the vehicles with reaction plate in the guideway) is focused on providing accessible transportation and is part of an initiative which also includes electric cars. A mock up of the PRT vehicle and a section of the ¼ scale test track were displayed to delegates.

The system includes several innovations including power collection using contactless induction rails, air suspension and wheelchair restraints.

The next step is to obtain European funding for a full-scale pilot scheme at the Rzesów University of Technology campus (10,000 students). Connecting the 5 main buildings together. Initial design is scheduled to commence in 2014.

Professor Choromanski will present the Eco PRT development at the upcoming Podcar City Conference outside Washington DC this October 23-26.